The Times from London, Greater London, England • Page 9

PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. Tcxstult, ilex 10. absence cf the OUXCX1X0B, BJ JJirTc iainnaa of Ocmauttees) took his seat I 19 ae0 tria the RAM. on 'lock.

rKtVATK BCSIMJSS. foOowinX BJ1 ixoJ 11 w. were read iij EJerthc Lighting, ADcnwn rjixriM Toi aad MM luccii icay rAe am ay. East London Wetr City of TV a.a a. Corporation, Railway.

lbuiding nod third time and Regulations, Bury and SLefiWd Corporation, fUlford "tflasgew District Tramways, Dublin, id Wexford Railway, Frwlon Corporation, l'Jti Railway, toes port Corporation Tram tr.wfiia. OnH.rtioa atf Corpora vJwiiwSna). tic Great Yarmouth llsves. yiVAL RESERVE (MOBIXJZATION) BILL. The KARL cf HOPETOUN fortnajly moved 4 th seeonJ reeding cf thu Bill.

cvkvckk Mid be did not run to orrose the aaVr suwrfl. not tin to crrose aVed fcr further information to the E3. ((, iu nwre operative provision, lie was chirrre that whilst new powers Un ilji there was no intention, by the Hill. i its uie neuwauoa, on to nan oi orr the actx sity fcr tuebilrting ue Reserve VV uirn wrrr put Into force. v.rtKLf HOl'KTOUN said wU assure thr sari that nyule ho arbitrary change in the ry ctrmtnnt ti (be lw officer jiilB termticn prrpoMKl tirrr to tlir prKriw rffrct 1 that boU ow 'al'ow Kill to the r'ijrMJW.

b4 wonld obtain from tbo law TfUca Information hch could be laid ooi of tbc Bill wa then agreed to. ntCKTT COrNCIX. ELECTIONS) ACT (1S91) Fu3 paKt tLroch ConunitWo. VoLOVUL 5L1RKIAOKS (DECHASKD WIFE'S SISTER) BILL. IIo ibra vent into Commit.

on this Dili. IfttB JAMES cf IIEUBFORD morod an amendment teCix ti otject cf limitinjr'the operation of R2 cviThape cf lenonj actually domiciW ecko'f He aarpealod that the amendment il Ja i1" ect of bitter prevntiiyr eranoiis of tit asodst wai ajrreed to, and the Bill paaved GRANTS TO V0L17NTAKT SCHOOLS. ISD HENEAGB (inttmatini; that be wonld defer i MEirH for aactlw cecaticn) mored for a retcm i t. i i i ulWaV. with the ncmber of children in average in ttr tcsoou in eaen assoctatton.

llwea mral and urban rehoola and jy. ti lct ii amoont of aid jrrant allotted in cf rath of rehoola anl further riving of aid frrvct per bead of arrrae attendance, thf rain or ioc to eaeh aaaociation under the Bst diffT3ttaJ mode of allotment ac oompared with 3sz? cf 5. per child in all aehooli." Oe teeca preed to. TIIE BmiAL GEOUM)S BILL. 2s B2i aai aome other Billi frem the Commons TBI rr: 75 nee rt at 20 'ratnnten to 5 o'clock.

HOUSF OF COMMONS. TCESDAY, JCKZ 19. 2r SrxAKES' took the chair ahortlj after 3 o'clock. FKIVATK BUSINESS. Ib? fallowing Bill were read a third time Brrtish Cnli CcBpaar (SUffordahire roOeriea) Bill, Rick raarcrJi and Cxbride VaUey Water Bill, St.

IVii'i RaflwaT (Ahaadosmcst) Bill, and the Lancaster rrycratka BCl. Oc tbt orier for the consideration of th West Brom rj Csrporation ill the followis: new clause was read iceoad time and addod to the Bill No ccheme istt eiuhltabment cf a thrift fund coder this part of S3 Ac. (hall ccae tnto operation until it his been yamd by the Registrar ef Friendly Societies ender is Fnsadly Socaetira Act, snHed to the provisions of tiprt of this Standing orders 23 and 243 ties rcspesded and the Bill was read a third time. EEltl IXDLOf PENINSULA RAILWAY COMPANY BILL (ANNUITIES). Sa Eocse went, into Committee oa this BUI, Mr.

I W. (Ccmlerland, Penrith) in the chair. Mr. C1LDWKLL (Lanark. Mid) moved That it i tseiiea to anthorise the creation of anroities to' if etirred en and pajaUe ont of the Revesnes of India bra of the sm of money amounting to 17n.

Cd. sgreed epen for the pnrchaM by Secrrurr cf Sate in. Council of India of the ender the 'Great Indian Penir.rola Railway Company, S3 iSe payiDent of anv costs and expenses incurred by said SecrrtarT cf State under any Act of the present tacts fcr trctins the fJ endertaking in the said Irrauj cf State in Council cf India and also any txj. carp and expense ef obtaining and passing vi Act not provided by the turpi as profits arising tettt said cadertakiaft for the half year the tf Jcne, fc. GIBSON BOWLES (King's Lynn) said be did as pte the popriety cf the purchase of this rail nt.

or tie metnod by which it was effected, bot be izli hxe to ask the Secretary of State for India nt the per.od fcr which thee annuities woold they wo eld include a sinking fond, and racier Ure were any charges on the revences of the tt3ed Eisjrdom. In the case of a Bill like this, where CJ.OcO.CCO was coscemed. Le thonght the Uouse si2hsTe Uen sspplied beforehand with information taat printed form in regard to it. USD G. HAMILTON (Middlesex, Ealing) said this vu EH1 for the acquisition by the Government efiaia ef a gr at railway by means ef an arrangement vita was plad to say woold be financially advan (MUto ti Uoternment.

The Uormment of India bj th cptiea ef aoaairing this jToperty by two neibuds'ef pcrehaae, either by paying a lump sum or assaty, tbry ba.1 adopWJ the latter system for esrcstre. In fact they had pursued an analbcoo cv to that adopt! in the case of all Bill viieh tiy had iu (Art years acquired posses similar undertakings. The annuity was to fcr b1) jrarv and included a sinking fund. eWre wLauure; would be placed on the revenoes sftkj eoostry. The words in the latter part of the oc f'r betuoe it was powibl that the sia jroiu of tiaa line which pacJ at once into iais the (iOTernment, misht not be sufficient st sS the expnes of this Aet.

He quite arreed. til un. friend that when a traasaetien ol this KSKle was IroujEBt. before the House it should be nt h. t3rk a way that bon.

menjbera might under ead eta: they wer aloct. (Hear, hear.) This was 1 prists bill, and therefore he was not, in that rwpoasitle for the method by which it was jhed to the House if he had known it coining before the House be wwuld taken care that in some way or other tj fsdstica was so far brought to the notice of boa. iri that they would have anderstood the nature of ttiisictisn. E. R0BHRTSON (Thad) hoped it would be to proceed with this Bill, which was raally a Pt taeuure In the direction of the nationalization of as if it were a.

publie and not a private BilL a not pottibie, he asked, to change the order of Fesdsr. CHAIRMAN said thai' objection ought to have taken before the Bill had Leen read a second time. JU. ELLIS (Nottingham, KasbcliiTe) said he wished tb ftM rrest poscible protest against the pro Csrj th had been; adopted ia the ease of this Bill. After utsKt remarks from Mr.

Liwb (Flint Berbaghs), 2wk 4 5red to, and was reported to the WlQCZEClAL COMMrNICATIONS WITH CAPE TOWN. Mr. C. McKTIIUn (Liverpool, Exchange) asked the Financial Secretary to the War vbnter it was now poBsible to give instructions tsm diaie resumption of 'cipher messages Logluh commercial booses and their corro l4 at Cape Town. c' POWKLL WILLIAMS (Birmingham, No io afrsid that it is not possible at present to 1 regulations with regard to code and cipher PRESENTS TO THE TROOPS.

J. LENG (Dundee) asked the Under Secretary or War if he could explain jTrfV Chrisucas preeents, carefully addressed to it rJ knd oldiers in Sooth Africa and duly landed Uf ouiiera ia Ainu uu uujj mww trf Toniad not yet been delivered, and especially truck! oads of parcels were thrown into the RiTcr. TOX WILLIAMS (in the absence of Mr. I have no information of the matter to 7 fton. member refers.

Doubtless some parcels teeff delivered, but the vast majority (T3 thr destination in spite, of the immenso lif5 CtiiTery to men wheee location is being con lyeLanjed. OFFICE AND TRUSTEE SAVINGS BANKS. VI N'CENT (Exeter) asked tbe CbancaUor of vTt if he would state what the profit or los tr? had ln smee lfeGl fnnn operations in rsxl3a with (Vo i. rn. n.V Th ht tiZz1 cpon the i.rr was sis in, tbe naroe of.

Sir lull 71W'Tt cr loss Tn' "r6 irvm cperalions in cPon the was slso in, tbe naroe of. Sir and is wheth the ricbt centlesn CT UJ what the profit cr loss to tbe Treasary had ZnTr cperauons in ccuiawa wiw T5 Evai2, Banks. jNCEIJjOR of the EXCHEQUER (Sir M. rjae). I wyj aljwrr this and the next questior am, with Sir Stafford Northoote's i7zTti ia 1577 to the effect that the sabiect snost as a wbol.

The awt jamfit la notct of the Port Offle BaTbxrs Baaka eanaot be rivm tr any earlier year than 1876, as the Income and capital ac ewuats were not aenarated. bat since 187 A tt has lam Lfl.SediOOO.: Tbe net lo in respect of the Income of Trustee Banks since 1M0 has been 197,000, to which should be added the charge on public funds in the same period for making rood previous defleieneiea of capital amomnting to total of 1,787,000. Therefore tho cost of the Trustee Banks since 1840 has exceeded the profit derived from the Post OSes Banks by 123,000. THE PORTnOOMINO NAVAL KANC5UYRES, Replying to Sot B. Goctoxt (Sonderiaad), Hr.

GOSCHKN (Si. George's. Hanover twuarel said be hoped the ban. gentleman woold pre him for any isiormattoo with regard to the naval masupuvrea. Tbe arrant ement would not be nnalhr settled until towards the middle of July.

THE HOME ARMY. Ia reply to Mxjob Rxscn (Essex, 8.K.), Mr. POWELL WILLIAMS said, Tbe organization of tbe troops at borne is tbe same as that which has held god for sercnl years past. Owing to the absence of the force in South Africa the various unit have been re allotted and more use has been made of the Voluc teen. Every organised onit has he will be shortly, informed of iu alietmest and duty in the event of general mobUiaation.

THE TROOPS IN SOUTH AFRICA. In answer to Mr. Elus, Mr. W1LUAMS said, Tbe nnmber of ram landed in Hon lb Africa bet wem August 1, 1899 and May 31, 19O0 amounts to 204,000. FOLWKUrV PERSONAL EFFECTS.

GKNEIUI. laUIUK Pembroke and Harrrferdwestl akoi uie uiuirr riecrrtary or Mats ofiirrrs and soldiers who bad lost rvofUd field service equipment by tbe rapture of a convoy iy toe enemy wouiu receive conpensation at tne public expete and wbeiber an inquiry was held in each case when a convoy was captured, and, if neglect of duty by want of proper precautions be ascertained, whether the odeer lulrharge was called uon te make good any part of such Jmso or was otherwise held to account. Mr. POWKLL WlIAlAMS. Oaieer and soldiers who bar lost peroonal effects' which are recognised as Arid service eauiptnent will reeeive compensation.

The question whether operations In the field bare been pre perly conducted is decided in the first instance by the Commander in Chief In the theatre of war. The Secretary of State for War has power under tbe pay warrant to eall open an officer to make tod small lessee for which be has been held responsible, but it has never been contemplated that a oCicer, even if hlameable, would be called upon to make good the loss of a convoy. EUROPEANS IN KUMASSI. Mr. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye) asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether be was able to ccmssunicate, to the House the names of tbe European THE TIMES, "WEDNESDAY; rnfomstica as to thw JiriVE 20, 1900.

7 sav wbcthet be haw sjr farther general position ia Obioaw Mr. BltOUBieiw: Cm Admixalty hare made arrangements for stationing additional ships at the most Important port on the Yang tese. Her Majesty's ships will, if necessary, cc cpcrate with the Viceroys on the Yang Uxa ia the maintenance of order. Noeircam t'ooas have at preecst arisen on the Yang taxe further action rteeoatury. The latest information we have received as to the general position of affairs in China is the following telegram from Commanding Officer, her Majesty's ship Endymion, Wei hai wei, June 18, 1900, 8 30 p.m.

Af tcr six boors' engagement on the 17th of ku forts were silenced and occupied by the allied forces. On tbe previous afternoon additional seen. for aterming fcrU were sent inshore from the ships. The British ships up the river engaged wen Algerine, sloop Fame and Whiting, torpedo boat destroyers two latter captured four Chinese torpedo boat destroyers. Casualties.

Algerine, slight. to rating party and others tnknown. Allied Admirals detained Chinese Micond' elass cruieer flying Admiral's flag outside Ta ku. No information of Commander in Chief China's return to Tie ta Bay bad been received by the Hear by 3 p.m. 17th June," This infermation ia later than that we received yesterday by Japanese gun.

boat. ARMY ESTIMATES. TRANSPORTS AND REMOUNTS. The House went into Committee on the Army 'u Estimates, Mr. J.

W. Lowtuxh in the chair. On Uio voto for 10.000,000 for transports and officials, traders, and missionaries now besieged in Knmissi, and the latest reports received as to tho health and position cf the garrison. Mr. BRODRICK (Surrey, Guildford).

The Europeans in Kumassi, ro tar as the names are known, are Sir Frederic and Lady Hodgson, Major Morris, Captains Marshall, Digan, Aplis, Armitage, Parmeter, Bishop, Lefgett, Cochrane," and Rad, Lieutenant Berth on, Mr. RsJh, Drsi' Gariaad, Tweedy, Chalmers, Graham, Hay and Macfarlane, Mr. Raaaseyer, and five other missionaries whose names are not known. Tbe latest information is contained in a letter from the Governor, dated the 4th of June, in which he said that tbe state of health was good. DEPREDATIONS BY FOREIGN TRAWLERS.

Replying to Sis C. Gcu. (Devon, Barnstaple), Mr. BRODRICK said, Representations have already been made to the Belgian Government in connexion with the recent cases ot damage by foreign trawlers to tbe gear cf British fishermen off the south coast. It is.

doubtful, however, wbetner tbe provisions of the North ea Fisheries Convention would afford a complete remedy in these particular eases. When the result of the representations which have been made has been ascertained, her Majesty's Government will farther consider the matter. THE INDIAN PAMTNE. SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banffshire) asked the Secretary of State for India whether be woold stato to which native State advances of money had been made to help them in dealing with the famine, and what the amount had been in each case.

LORD G. HAMILTON. On May 31 I telegraphed to India for a detailed statement of adranocs made to native States for famine purposes, but I have not yet received the figures up to date. Papers which have come before me show that some time back there bad been advanced to States in Rajputana 2.10,000, to States in Central India 50,000, to States in Kathiawar 50,000, to Stat in the Central Provinces 20,000. A famine loan of 500,000 has also been sanctioned for the Haidarabad State under the guarantee of the Indian Government.

SIR II. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, asked tbe Feeretarv of State for India whether, having regard to tbe appeal made by the Viceroy of India to theLord Mayor of London for charitable contributions on behalf of the sufferers by the famine hi India, the time bad arrived for asking Parliament for a grant from Imperial funds to the Indian Exchequer. LORD G. HAMILTON. The VleeroTJs kttex was intended to give information as to the pnrpciees to which the money subscribed had been applied, tbe good results obtained, and tbe need of, further subeeriplicns I fcr the same lobjects.

Bat it does not affect the qors tion whether the financial resources of India are ui cient for tbe task which the Go'emaaent cf that country has undertaken in connexion with tbe relief of famine, a task which, (as the right hon. gentleman is aware, is distinct from that to which the money raised by sub seripticn is applied. As to the financial resources of the Government of India, 1 may state that we have in this country an untouched borrowing power of a portion of, which I propose to utilize next month. I Mr. MACLEAN (Cardiff) asked the Secretary of State for India wbeiber medical authorities in India had condemned the practice of collecting together people seeking famine relief in large camps which were specially liable to attacks of epidemic disease instead of distributing them near their own homes; whether Mr.

Monteath, Chief Secretary to Government, bad reported tiat it was undoubtedly true that there was not sufficient MtablLhment is India to adequately with the demand for relief and that it was not supposed that the rules and orders of Government were jwfectly carried ut and whether tbe India Office still considered that the resources of India wero sufficient to deal with the famine. SIR H. KOWLKR said be desired to ask a supple tncntary question, as tbe noble lord bad not really answered the! question be had petto him. He had aaknd whether' tbrre was to be a grant from the Imperial Indian Kxshrfluer. and the noUe lord, in reply.

spoko about the barrovuif. powers of the Indian Govern merit. LORD HAMILTON. I pointed out that the Indian Government have in this ceuntry borrowing powers to the xtent of 9,000,000. Any graut tiiade by the Impi rial Government towards India must be made lmn.

m.n.1 therefore 1 assumed inv rieht bon. frienil would gather that it was only reasonable that Government should try to realize its own resources before it came to Parliament. Mr. MACLEAN. Hoes the noble lord say that the.

Vlnemv of India does not use the resources at dis posal for the relief of the famine though the people are dying by thousands LORD G. HAMILTON. I. did net say anytnmg oi the kind. In replv to the question of the hon.

gentleman ea the paper 1 have to say that' I am not sware tnat tne opinion 01 cuiou against large relief works. It is, of course, obvious that there are some disadvantages in collecting the Sufferers from famine in large camps, but the system on the whole, working well ana appears to oe tne only one under which relief on a large scale can be. effectively supervised. I have no knowledge ot any soch reDort as vnai wmca is umnjicu ui uw qucsuuu i .1 I 1 to a secretary oi tne rximoav irgfrnuntuu i uam reason to believe tfcat, aitnougn lucre mus re mocn misery and distress connected with so unparalleled a drourtt. the resources of the Indian Government, as matters now nana, are equai a ux ma uuuci.un.cu vj that Oovemment in.

respect of the famine. THE DISASTER TO THE YEOMANRY. In reply to i Mr. Butciizh (York) and Gssxbjj. Bcssell (Cheltenham), m.

PfiWKlJ. WILLIAMS said. No details of the disasters to the 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, and to the 4th Battalion Derbyshire Regiment have yet been received. The wounded leomanry are for the most part at Lindley in the charge oi Ucnerxi rages some, uuw ever, are at Reitz, which, it is believed, is still held by the enemy. Mr.

BUTCHER asked whether the bon. geatle would trive an assurance that an unmeoiaie inquiry vote for 10,000,000 rrjuouuu, MAJOR RARCII asid that in the opinion of for War wtictber I nreu nt val.t, nmnmti Ii.fl Ut personal eflecU 0 be wtrvsl. Under that svikm they cot untrained horin and paid a eonsidcralle price (or them. Ha would suggrnt that th War Oflion should adopt the system bow in vogue in Austria Hungary, by whicli that (lovrrnment paid, as a rule, 32 for a cavalry horse and about 'J'i fur a draught horse. In this country they were not suppoeed t'i bur trootwrs under four years old, but practically they did buy thtm at thrnn years.

It was false economy to take young horses, at the prices they paid, which they were not able to utilise. They could not be sent to the front, and bad to be left in barracks. It was a fact, too, that they retained in the service a great many old horses relics of 'antiquity simply for the purposes of economy which ousut to have been cast long ago. Ib War Ollice should try to establish remount drpAts and stud depots in Ireland, winch was about the best horse breeding country in the world, and if the Government woold endeavour to follow tho system of reserve of horses which obtained in Austria Hungary, be believed they would do a good turn to the English and farmers, and, at the same time, secure a cood class of horse for the service. Mr.GIBSON BOWLES desired to support what his hon.

and gallant friend had said upon the question of remounts. They required more horses now than ever they did. If they wanted mobility they must have more horses than men. Under the present system be could not doubt that there was great waxte, and in connexion with the imrcbase of horses for Sooth Africa be believed there were very bad He did not make any charge against tbe Government it was the system. They wanted a largo number of horses for South Africa and they bad to send to the four quarters of the world.

They had to send to the and there he believed they bought all the wrong horses. They bought tho barscs from the plains instead of tbe bill horses. There was.no trial of the horses and no adoqnate examination, and all this might be avoided by providing remounts. The time had arrived when the War Office must settle this question. SIR II.

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN said they were dealing with a most complicated question, and he was sure tbe Secretary for War all the suggestions that could be made by those who were practically acquainted with the horse market in this country and elsewhere. There was one point with regard to which be wished to say a word or we be meant the suggestion that they should copy the Austro Hungarian" system. If bo knew little about norms he did know. a good deal abont Austria Hungary. That country possessed this advantage which thr did not possess here all the agricultural horses were suitable as cavalry horses, but in this country he did not think they could draw largely agricultural horses for their troops.

This was an enormous advantage but as to tbe remounts, he urged that the matter should receive dose attention. COLONEL WELBY (Tauntou) pointed out tbe difficulties, lmoi insurmountable, which would arise if each man bad to groom, and look after two borses. If a man took two herses into the flejd he wosld not be able to give much attention to the enemy and be lelievM that if they insisted on eacb.man bavins two horse it would be 'absolutely impossible to get men for the cavalry. Many of the remounts were untrained or old borses, and he contended that if they were coing to" have an efficient return they must have every 1 horse shown in the return as actually efficient for service. i 20 IjBdw our Fyrtcra nearly all the best horses produced in Ireland were swept up by foreign i countries.

The only plan would be to subsidize the fanners who produced horses, and, failing that, we asost fall back on Government bree iing erUblithments, As to tbe recent unfortunate incident at Aldershot, be was informed that in nearly all Infantry regiments the cart in which tbe. midday meal was carried had to be provided by the canteen. If that were so. it practically was provided ont of the pipekcta of the soldiers. Before commanding officers could bo blamed for failure of supplies, it should be certain that the War Office provided all tbe equipment.

81R U. MAXWELL (Wirtownshire) mid that be could I not agree that we should depend on Government breeding eUblhhmcnts. The fact was, we must pay some penalty for living in an island. Among the disabilities was the impossibility of producing borse i on valuable land at reasonable prices. But within the Bmpire there were vat areas Canada, for instance which already produced horses of the best quality.

Glasgow imported excellent horses far tramway purposes and the faipply was, apparently, because the price was moderate. Mr. WYNDHAM said that it was necessary to get through these votes rapidly as there was an absolute need of money for the war. The right boa. gentleman had placed bis finger on tho consideration which underlay the whole of this 'controversy when he pointed out that we.

lived in an J' those responsible for the provision of great accuracy where and under what conditions the cavalry would bavo to fight. Who could say where tbe cavalry of England would have to fight During the present, war, and up to June 12. 91,000 hones had been shipped to South Africa. Would any one, on the ground of commou tine or economy, ask any Government to maintain an expensive remount evtabtiahment and a stud in Knglaini, the most' expensive country in the world, with tbe proKpect of taking the horiea so reared at a cot of 35 a horse in place of the horses at a lower rate from Argentina elsewhere Though the country must pay to get a good article, yst there were limits. Vkrn the sea transport of horses from this coantry cot more than the horse thrjnselve.

delivered free from other parts of. the world, be doubted whether we should be justined in raising horses in this country te meet tbe demands of a 4 rrrat war. He knew tbe great studs at Saumur, is France, and be should be delighted to see such an establishment in this country. But he could never recommend it to the House, knowing that the hones raised in that manner would cost infinitely more than our borses now cost and might prove to be unfitted to i tbe ihvsical conditions of tbe country to which they were sent. A certain number cf tbe borses shipped to South Africa bad come from England others bad come from Canada, Australia, India, and ether sources which lie did not care to name.

The hart bad cost on delivery 45 the Argentine horse had cost, on the beach in South Africa, 26. But the mere passage ef the horse from England cost 35, and as it was impossible, even under present conditions, to get an English horse for less than 35 or 40 the total cost ot tbe English, horse en the. beach in South Africa was from 70 to 75. Having regard to tbe colossal losses which most' fall upon the borses in any campaign, and to the fact after all, the cobs from Australia or the Argentine would do the; work as well as the English horse under tbe conditit'hs of mud era warfare the poor animals being merely food for powder no Government would be justified in asking the country to pay three times as much as was neceasary for so perishable an article. As it was impossible to say where English cavalry borses would have to fight, or what the physical conditions of the country would be, it was well to be free t.o purchase tbe horses most suitable for tbe campaign, and those which could be most expeditiously transported.

It was not true that the War Office bad proceeded in a hugger mugger way with regard to remounts. There were officers chosen because of their acquaintance with horses. Officers had been oat since June last, not purchasing, but marking down all tbe good horses in the market or likely to come into the. market and getting options for purchase. That was a eommonsense and economical plan.

Our greatest difficulty in the cavalry sprang from tbe enormous amount of work which the young recruit had to do. The War Office bad been going into the I ouestiou ef the rreat number of men who purchased their over the eonntrv who were' In tocrh frith sellers of horses best sotted for cavalry purposes and he did not think it was possible to mount our men in time of peace csi horses under say other principle than that which had guided the War OiSee duriag the past 13 months. Mr. WARNER (Stafford, tichfield) drew attentioa to remoaaU, not only for the cavalry, but for the artillery and transport, lie pressed the necessity of having lighter carts than the "usual regimental transport was supplied with. He wanted to know the number of registered horses which had been taken, sad whether the system of rvgutering horses had peered to be a soreeas.

He also hoped that as little moaey as possible would be spent this year on moving troops at home from one district to another, SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield. Central) paid a tribute to the services rendered by the transpsrt department in South Africa, as well as to the War Odien. and tho Ailmiralty in conveying the troops to South Africa. There was a stnfag feeling among officers of all arms that the regimental and brigade system cf transport inaagurated by Sir lied vers Buller eoght net to be abandoned in favour of tbe old system, lie bad visited most of the rsmoant establishments ia Senth Africa and he could bear out what hail been said by the UnderSeeretarv as to tha ability khovm ia norcbacnr borses for the Armv. He wished be could sav that the I EnglUa horses bal proved more suitable than tbe Canadiaa or Argentine borses bnt having seen the establishments be must rndono tbe view expressed by tbe Under Secretary.

Tbe Knglikb horses were iu great art too big, and they bad suffered in many rases from the voyage out, from the great heat, and tbe change of climate, Tbe system of docking their tail which prevailed hern, and which did' nut prevail in Australia, in Canada, er la Argentina, had caused enormou suiferlng to tbe animals through their being unable to protect themselves apainst the pert of flies, and It was responsible for a great share of the mortality among the horses in Boatn Africa. One of the criticisms heard ia South Africa against our administration was that there was a great deal too much grooming and currycombieg of cavalry horses, because this rare prevented the burses from being protected; by the natural oil in tkeir coats from tbe plague of In only a few rases had it been possible te eiarcise the horses on board, and the best borses which be saw arrive in South Africa were those of tbe U.l.V. Artillery, which were exercised for 20 minutes twice a day. The Argentine horses of 14.2 hands bad been invaluable. They were of the right size.

It was absolutely essential that mounted infantry should be mounted on rather small horses, which were easy to mount. Not few of the casualties in tho present war had leen due to tbe difficulty of getting en big borses. The' Canadian borses of 15 hands had done exceedingly well, as also, ia some respects, had the Australian horses, although the Utter were too big. With regard to home transport, the mobility of our Army at hosae would be greatly increased if the Government would furnish the officers quarters, the mess premises, and the canteen, and thus reduce the amount of baggage required. (Hear, hear.) This was a matter which vitally affected tbe married seen, and especially the non commissioned officers and men ef tbe Household Brigade.

The cavalry regiments of the Household Brigade moved, be thought, every six moat and these unfortunate people bad to pack up their furniture aad cart it from Kaigbtsbridge to Albany street or from Albany street to Windsor twice a year. He hoped that if it was necessary to move the cavalry regiments of tbe Household. Brigade so frequently something vould be done towards furnishing the married quarters. In this way a great deal could be done to increase the mobility and efficiency of the Army and also the comfort of the officers and men. CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.V said It was quite dear that it woold be impossible to have stud establishments in this country.

Therefore, it was all the more necessary to improve our system of transport in reference to horses. It a Urge nnmber of horses were placed on board ship without a competent man in charge of them a Urge number of remounts were necessarily lost. He urged that some ttatut should be given to the Army Veterinary Department hi order that the borses might be better cared for than they were at the present GENERAL RUSSELL said he had visited the remount establisluxents in Germany ha had also taken part in two campaigns in South Africa. He could say that, whatever our remount system might have been in this country, it would have been impossible for the Government in the present crisis to have done otherwise than have recourse to foreign borses. English horsus wore uneuitablo for South Africa.

They were unaccustomed to tho lorage and became skeletons a short time after they got there. much more suitable. The expense resnmenis had not rot them. It was the i them to the resimenvts. the swlicsiioa for that bad gone wrong.

The vote was agreed to. On the vote of 13400,000 for prnwisiasa, socage and other supplies, COLONEL WELBY erred that where the TJlWsica bread and rim ran win nrrrsissnr it should be suprjlied by the Government instead of being paid for oat of money uat rcauy belonged to tfe men. Tfie matter was a small une, but these snail grievances saade the Army unpopular. Mr. WARNER pointed oat that awarding to the regalaticcs for allowances the lieutenant colonel ef a regiment received aa allowance fer his bone and so did the major, who was the third officer, bet the second oQcer in command bad no forage allowance when ia England.

Mr. JIIFPREYS eafled attention to the war ia which the prorauons were passed ia the varieos camps ia the country. The meat was passed by subalterns who knew absolutely nothing about it, and whose object was to pass it as quickly as possible, with the result that there were a great many rompuats as to the quality of tbe meat, lie suggested that 'men with a special knowledge of the tub ject. should be appointed to pass all the meat. ine long, toe, was passed ny loose wacu in out ef 100, bad no special knowledge, sa that there were constant complaints, and very oftea' it was a joke among contractors that the bad hay bad been passed and ue good may seat back, lis hoped au boo.

need would make some reform in these matters. After some remarks from His A. Acuurj IIaoD (riomcrset, Wellington), which were iasadibie in the gallery, Mr. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.) said that what ever reasons there might be daring a time of peace for not recognising the wives of soldiers who had married without leave, there could be no reason why they should not be recognised when their hnitends were oa active service aad should not receive a separation allowance. He would like to kaow bow long it was proposed to continue the payment ef separation allowances to the wives of tbe wounded.

He hoped tbe War Office would consider the very hard case of the mothers ef many of the Reservists who bad been called sp in many cases the loss of tbe services of their sans meant the loss of the means of maintmsnrs to these poor women, aad be hoped it would be possible at all events to make them some smaller separation allowance. SIR F. FTTZ WTGRAM (Hants, Fart ham west uudci stood to suggest that cavalry officers should have some training at Aldershot to fit them to judge of the quality forage. MAJOR RASCn said that, although the subalterns knew very little about forage the burse master knew a good deaL If, instead of acquiring the farrago of useless nonsense which was erasoxued down their throats, young officers were compelled in their carricolum to take up a book like that by the bon. baronet the member for Southampton, on horses and forage, it Coming to the ouestiou ef tba would obviate the present (Hear, bear.

HtI ptbiniing that the present lie trvjkvwwf 4ka si sir 1 1 in si aflni silk bmsi 4am I f. i.ia,aw kesQ fc4iasss4sj lUtsil W4 IWs ewe vw little. Mr. STSACUE (Sotaerset, hoped the Committee would receive an explanation why practically the whole of the bay used in South Africa during toe war was bought from Argentina and abroad generally. The large sums of money so spent might possibly have been expeaaen tnxs country, ana taere bf of thsj British Amy.

Wbai they had to do was tat the right cap sad the right hat. '(Bee, JT they came to the qaesttoa of tho bat be crwnad tbs were face to fees with riiffirnrtiics widea wtxe lie eaiirely those cf fashim or mode. How many headdresses were there ia the British Army, aad bow meer regiments were prepared to give up their foil dress bead sear? Thwy ooold not 1st a finger caaayeaeef the artielse of heed gear wftious iwallT fbweagfag tbe sentimental traditions of some particular corps. They could net afford to lgsora that sdtorether. It war part ef the capital on which they ran their Army.

They might say this er thai was a ridiculous bat. So it wasTbetit reminded tbe toes who were in tbe cores at the creaect day ef tome great deads that were dooe by the refines of old aad diffe rcntiatod them from others. He was not pre pared to defend tbe forage cap, boa be wosld point oat that si was bos ntranen as, ana was act desigaed for, a protection agsixsct the sas. They most recollect with regard to the sappry of headdress that thev had sect out a Urge armv to Booth Africa aad thwy bad mode every effort to obtain from. tbe makers of helmets an sdeqaaie svsply, bet there were diSemlties to be ever come.

Sometime tbe makers of helmets were interfered with by trade naioas and apprentices were objected to. The lesson to be leant was that they oast ia future have far greater re serve of stares than they had bees scccstosied to ia the past. (Hear, bear.) There was, however, aa raterral to be tided over. Without prejudice to the helmet which may be ultimately adopted, iber prrpared to Issoe at once 52.000 lirht canvas slouch hats fer the Militia sod Royal Rsei.ru which woold be a protection frees the sen. It was sot, of course, the final form which mlrst be adcoted.

but it wcaw meet tee emergency, icr urr asost not target vast there were was a great deal of disiititf action among tbe fanners especially in tbe West of Engl and. Mr. WYNDHAM said tbe question of food supply to tbe soldiers had been raised by the boa. member for Taunton and the hen. member for Sooth East Essex.

With regard to the rations, all those who were cognisant of the facts knew that the ration at home was lib. of bread aad Jib. of meat, bat of course the Utter amount was increased te lib. when the troops were under canvas. given fer message, aad the canteen system turned upon tne way in which the themselves and financed for themselves money which was pooled and which was derived from that source.

Few people had aay idea of the ssm of mosey which had Leen sank by the public in canteen and recreation rooms. There were theatres for sing songs and other entertainments, recreation rooms with libraries attached, and the whole of tbe fabric was earning money for. the soldier. The officers took tbe greatest interest in the conduct of affairs, the accounts were audited for nothing, and a great of money could be made, thanks to the assistance which was 1vn'Kv that cnrmv mrAm Kv l9.4ia.mv4 Tt mi foreign horses were cf the money so made that tbe soldier provided himself would be ruinous if jth the meals which wero really necessary ia view of we wero iilu wui cuuuuji 1 1 ws tno ration which was almost impossible to boy horses in this country after the' bon. member for U1CJ EiHWOU mo MB U4 uuu.

"i I impossible tO tOllOW SCJOSS corses wmca wuq uuij wiin jtdw uu wero uui u. put in the ranks. It might be desirable to have farms to which horses could be scat until they had attained the requisite age. CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfar) said that tbe Under Secretary bad stated on a previous occasion that the eost of a horse from Argentina landed at the Cape was 26, while tbe cost of transport of a horse from this country, excluding the cost of the animal, was 35. That seemed to him a very great difference' having regard to the mileage between Argentina and tbe Cape and London and the Cape.

He would be clad of some explanation on the point. He would also like to know wby the fir it instalment, at any rate, of tbe return with regard to transports, which was agreed to by the House as far bock as February 0, had net yet been presented. COLONEL KENYON SLANEY (Shropshire, New port) said that, aa far as he eould gather, it was tbe general opinion of experts that the kind of horse sent to fcoutk Africa from this coantry bad not proved satixfae tory. He believed, that if the bleeders in this coantry knew what kind of horse was required they would be able to produce it. lie suggested mat tne Government should send round to the agricultural shows one or two typical animals so that breeders might see what was reuuired.

He wished' also to call attention to the matter of regimental baggage. Tbe officers bad' now to carry aboat apertect mass of luggage and furniture because barracks were handed over to them as bare as a cell in a prison. It would, he was sure, be more economical if the barrack rooms were kept decently equipped, and tbe outUy might be met by charging tbe officers of each regiment occupying tbe barracks a reasonable rent. If the item of barrack furniture were struck off, it would Austria or France lessen greatly the borden of expense cast en young men bancs knew with joining tbe Army, (near, near. Mr.

WARNER asked bow far tbe War Office' bad boon able to supply the Royal Reserve regiments with bones. GENERAL LAURIE contended that the method of baying horses in Canada, wheio the horse used by tbe farmer was just the norse required lor military pur poses, was not calculated to produce good resulU. The remount officers gave notice of their intention to visit a certain place and they were always outbid by the American horse dealer. He suggested that remount officers should, not be sunt out ia this way, but that the horses should bo obtained from the producer through a middleman. Mr.

WYNDHAM' said that he had not by him the exact number of registered borses, bet the' omnibus horse 'was a registered horse, and bon. members would be glad to bear that he had been twice mentioned ia desuitches. (A Uuzh. General Sir George Forestier Walker stated on March 13, ia reply to inquiries, tbe Australian cavalry horse and the English omnibus lit. nrppr mn.t j.tisfft.etnrv.

anil in rinlv to more loliowinz order a useless anu naicuious neau uresB The question raised by Lichfield was one which it was tbe floor of the House, bat as to the remarks of the hon. member for the Basingstoke i Division be contended that every officer ia tbe Army I ought to be an expert on tbe quality ef tbe food sap plied to the menand of tbe forage supplied to tne borses. The point was, however, one of regimental discipline. A food commanding officer woold no doubt have his meat properly inspected, whUe a bad commanding officer would probably fail in that respect. An hon.

and gallant member had asked wby the barrack expenses were so much higher than hitherto. Tho barracks had never been fuller during the history ot the century than they had been during this month, and the ezpeases were accordingly higher. Tbe boa. member for South West Manchester had made himself the champion ef the dependants of the' soldiers who were fighting abroad but, as tbe bon gentleman had hinted, it was not possible to alter the: basis of the whole system of allowances. That the Government should provide lodging, food, and fuel for all the dependants of tbe soldiers in South Africa was a proposition which eould not; be entertained The ben.

member for Sooth Somerset had asked why so much hay had been bought oat of the country. As in the case of remounts, they most get the best article at the most moderate price, and it was the fact that they could get hay from Canada aad other places, which was considered the very best forage for this at a price infinitely lower than they could purchase hay (as a rule in small quantities fraxa individual farmers in this country. Mr. STRACHEY asked what was the price per tea ot the hay bought in Argentine. Mr.

WYNDHAM remarked that tt was very mtrh lees than that of the English hay. Mr. STRACHEY protested against the concealment of. the price of hay. Mr.

JEFFREYS listed that be bad ascertained that the Argentine bar cost 4 or bay to be obtained here. He was sorry his boa. friend had not promised that subalterns would be instructed ia the inspection of meat and forage. COLONEL WELBY said from his experience one of the best means for obtaining good meat for a regiment was; to put tbe butcher under the water cart. (Laughter).

GENERAL LAI BIK througkt the rations ought to be increased. Tbe Army was now mainly composed of growing lads, and they required plenty of good food to make thsm into men. The voto" was greed to. the MlhtU aad the Rcral Reserve which had to be drilled. There was another coosideratioa hlch had to be thought of.

He taint meat: en the fact that many Militia corps were to Highland regiments. Were they to supply theeo MilitU regiments with the feather bonnet The feather bonnet would be ia store for 11 months of tho year, aad according to a calculation at this rate a earner bonnet would last 144 veers, Lanrhler.) Tner would see that the matter was not so easy as some persons imagined. They had to feel their way, aad they were eelin their wav. towards tba tui 1bj a nftahl head dress for the whole Army which it could use' wherever duty mirht call it in or out of the Emnire. They bad been at work oa the sabiect for a long He knew thev were errtictxed aad bamrbed at for talk lag se Uag at the War Office, bat he thought' it would be a fatal mistake to decide on a helmet which would not be aecentable to th aoldLar.

Kami they would get a suitable helmet without aar leng delay. SIR H. CAMPBELL BANNEEMAN tboorkt thehen. member was aiming at rather too much who thaarht be eould find a bead dress which would suit all rlimstrs The great difficulty was that they never knew where the soldier was to serve or under what conditions. the' cap, he could' Bot difficult was a httle owing to tbe slight which was pot oo the Gleagarry cap.

Whatever sap they might ultimately adopt, it was not likely to be useful if it was net worn where it eeght to be wero. If it was worn on the nose a oa the back of the bead.it would aet be mneb ate as a covering icr tne head. The exaggerated meline at which the soldier was apparently encouraged to wear his cap was aa injustice to tho cap itself.itself. The question was one by no means so simple as looked, for as to the ordinary silk hat (lifting Eia own from the table) was there not a great controversy about it Therefore if there was acQfficulty as to the bead dress of the soldier, who was not se free and' who had strict conditions imposed upon bim, be did net they should be at all surprised. An boa.

member spoke of the necessity ia this conned ca of considering tbe great events of the past with which the drees of the soldier mirht bare a connexion. No one eould aav that of the cap cf the present day. The boo. gentleman bad, told had bean on, aad 1.M Hn.ii would be borae in mind, bat be thought they would be sure to come te grief if they attempted too maeh. Mr.

WARNER declared, speaking from experience, that tbe forage can was not a head gear to be worn ia tbe bot sen. He wrJ.itd that the War Office did not supply the MilitU regiments with proper clothes and equipment. A Militiaman should have one suit of new clothes at least, bot as a rule be was supplied with disgracefully old garments, aad oftea with worn rifles and accoutrements that did not rrth. Dr. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire.

was glad to bear that the soldier was to be supplied with a smart suit for great occasions and another suit for bard work, aad he thought that in future seatiffleat woold favour tbe light, loose clothing associated with gallant deed a South Africa. tlaar. 1 The tirht tunics cf eld days were the cause of ranch injury to health and of disesses that wero now rare in tbe Army. Ha was glad the Under Secretary had taken a grave view cf the sad ecexareaces at Aldershot. The serious results of sunstroke were not measured by the cumber of deaths.

A man who had had sunstroke was never, safe it affertvd Mm for the rest of bis life ia a variety of ways familiar to those who bad travelled in tropical eW. To relieve apprehension and remove misconception would be well if tbe War Office laid before the House a fall account of the inquiry into these sad events, ot the gravity of which the boa. geaUsmaa bad taken a very proper view. LORD RALCARRKS (Xancsahire, Chorley) said i must aot.be assumed that the War Office were always te be blamed if sua helmets were not supplied, and he was personally acquainted with instances where tbe department placed mo difficulty in the way of a request by regimental officers for such bead covering. Mr.

SCOTT'MONTAGD (Bants, New Forest) gave his experieaee of the heat wave oa the field day at Aldershot, aad said he had knows the. beat of the son ia this coantry. to be greater than be had felt it in South Africa. Though no or forage cap would have much relieved the heat on the day in question, be attributed tbe majority of cases' of to the want of a suitable head covering. If be had to choose between helmet and forage cap be should prefer the Utter, bat be hoped that the' bead gear fer the future woold be somewhat similar to that worn by our irregular forces ia South Mr.

LABOUCHERE (Northampton), sdaxxrinr adroitness with which the Under Secretary bad I the canteen system fP The hon. gentleman ha. soldiers managed for yaa lbA he War Office were, engaged, and bae elves the amount of 'or oma tune, in considering the whole ouestic eh was derived from be hoped the excellent rule which "be bad laid x.e the cooraged discussion of the' military kat of tbe future, ia i i. i Ottld DO made into IOC a th. Armr.

Inoniriea made Kairast. ana amer maces i I 1 1 in (Hear;) my noble with re in Ireland as. to the number of men in the cavalry who bad parr based their discharges showed that tbe ever whelming majority cf tbe replies wero to the effect that the men liked the cavalry but did not like the work. It bid been suggested that there should be two horses for every man. But the result of such an arrangement wculd be that each man after doing his duty as a soldier work and out of tbe question, especially as the horses of the type needed must be purchased mere mrwI rutin in Dublin where the Yeomanry battalion had been raised Mr.

POWELL WILLIAMS I will inform friend the Secretary of War ef the anxiety gard to this matter. INDIAN TROOPS IN CHINA. In answer to Mr. Bcchajca (Aberdeaishire, LORD GEORGE HAMILTON said. All expenses ordinary and extraordinary of any Indian troepe who mav be desTJatcbed to Heas kong and China will be borne entirely by tbe Imperial Government.

onened. Whv. tncrefore. should they have in a cavalry piTT A regiment more borses than were needed in order to qflf, mount the men for the fullest parade He maintaUed Mr. LEWIS asked the Under Secretary cf State for xbx the gystem which prevailed was the best and Foreign Affairs whether he could communicate to the the cheapest system.

It had also been asked whether House any information relating to the safety of British the department bad considered other portions of the Empire. The department bad considered the question subjects at .1 eking. he confesi his own treat personal diwppoint Mr. Ve have no news irom a cu5 a te di9e0.ered that two or three year later date thin that already communicated to the oll i v. OT bought in South Africa and tt.

lraied there for use in South Africa, would 'mmnrrnnn irn v. vTM.cretipv nossiblv cost more tr.an to imoott them. Nothing rar. AnDUbUU BTMC I ttejkcu fctic v. i tniAi was more expensive insn ine.iceepmg oi uoroa.

au for Foreign Affairs whether arrangement had been i which WM not mtd for two to supplement the forces on the langtszc 11111 jrs was one of the most expensive things in the whether any intimation bad been conveyed to the world, and this was the answer which ho made to tbe Viceroys of tlie Yang teze region that they will be held attack for pirchasing through middlemen. It was not, personally rcEpocaiblo for any injury to tbe lives and bewsver, the esse that the War Office purchased borses property of British subjects. I only from middlemen. He bad himself been present when SIR H. CAMPBELL RANNERMAN (Stirling aa officer bought four bom from farmers who had Barahi).

Perhaps the right boa. grntlemaa will sOsoJ.tcea taein tna ico araransni na auwe ou detailed irxiuiries be placed borses in tbe I of suitability Cavalry borses, the large horses Australian first, English second, best Argentine third mounted infantry, cobs Cape horses Erst, Indian and Australua second, Argentine third. He also stated that a few Arab horses from IndU bad. proved very satisfactory, as well ss the English omnibus horse. As to the number of horses already in the "IU possession of the Royal Reserve regiments be had not the figures with him.

Hon. members did not appear quite to appreciate tbe fact that these were very young regiments, and that borses could not be supplied until the men were there. But tba average number of men in these regiments was satisfactory, and there was no difficulty in getting horses now as fast as they were needed. It was gratifying to find that it was possible in this 'country to get so many horses of the very 'stamp that was required at the price which was accepted tor 'them. As to the best mode of transport for horses, the evidence of recent operations was not' conclusive.

Grievous losses bad taken place in one case where the fittings of the vtssel were on tho new model and in the other where they were oa the old model. It was, however, the experience of a firm which carried a Urge nnmber of horses that the new style of fittings was on the whole the best. It had been found that with slings horses were apt to sit down in rough weather for several days together without raising themselves on their hind legs, and that induced serious results. A plea had been put in on behalf of the British officer that he should not be put to great expense, as he was at present, by being asked to fit up his room, and then to convey the whole of his goods and chattels at each of the many removals entailed upon him. He was glad that the question had been ranvad, because some remarks which be let fall earlier in the Sion upon the argent need of reducing tbe cost to his parents cf the young officer bad been "held cmtside that Uouse to mean that the young officer was as a rule extravagant.

He did not think that was the case. There might be in certain cases extravagance. There might be room for a certain amount of, be would not say sumptuary legislation, but sumptuary pressare. It mast, however, be accompanied by some relief of tbe burdens which we rJaced unon voumr officers. It was not fair to say to would then have to buckle to in order to do the the young officer that he was not to waste his money of a helper.

The proposal was absolutely impossible and at tho same time to force him to devote so Urge an or less after the war i fenders, sc. bllt HOWARD V1SUEST. poxtT ana lenaer are provided. (Laughter.) Mr. WYNDHAM, continuing his observations, said that if we were to have a reform it ought to be a bilateral reform.

With tbe need for sumptuary reform there was a need for rreater cenerosity te wards the young officer who had so many charges placed upon bim. Mr. JEFFREYS (Hants. siid he knew of a cavalry regiment which had only 200 horses. There were many men in that regiment who had never been on ahorse.

If tho horses could be got, why were they not got As to the subsidy question farmers would have to be much more highly subsidized in this country than in in order to effect any substantial change. In Austria tbe borses on the farms were, light instead of being heavy Eke those on English farms, and they could be bred very cheaply. Mr. WARNER said that there was diOcuKy about getting hones, and therefore tbe remount system On the vote of 4,650,000 for tba Arary dothiag establishments, SIR J. PERGUSSON (Mancbester, N.E.) said it was 1 simply incredible that the Army authorities should go on year after year sending men out to drill and mancruvres in extremely hot weather as at Aldershot recently without proper covering for their beads.

He thought the present forare cap, which was absurdly called smart," I a'useless and ridiculous bead dress. It was too small and had to be worn cocked on one ear. He thought it was a crime that soldiers should be seat out on hot summer days with this cap to be stricken. dowa, by sunstroke. He could not conceive whv the War Office had not long ago adoptod a more sensible cap.

COLONEL WELBY also condemned the forage cap. He had been informed that the helmet served out to the troops had proved very unserviceable in South Africa. For one thing the men could not lie down ooaifortably wearing it. The only practical head dress in South Africa was the soft bat won by the Yeomanry and City' of London Volunteers. He hoped the changes to be introduced into the Army, arising out ot the experiences obtained in the war, woold Tncindn the provision of good practical head dresses.

LORD E. MANNERS (Iieesiershire, Melton) endorsed the remarks of bis boo. aad gallant friend as to the extremely unsuitable character of the forage cap, and expressed a bope that steos would be taken to provide the soldiers not only with a good forage cap, bat also with a suitable full dress bead gear. Mr. GIBSON BOWLES said it was perfectly possible to invent a rational bead drees for the British soldier.

Tbe British Army was, In fact, the only army ia the world which had not got such a head dress. As to the forage cap, the sailor showed thorn what should be done, while with reference to tbe uU dress head gear. let them go back to the. traditions ox tbe 17th century, when the Roundheads and the Cavaliers ought each other with such vigour and effect. Mr.

WYNDHAM said that, though the eccentricities of costume bad been the theme of the satirists of every age, the subject came before them that day as tbe consequence of a most; melancholy catastrophe. (Hear, bear) He could assure every boa. member of the Committee that no one felt more deeply than be did how deplorable what bad happened at Alder shot' was, and that; the War Office bad approached the subject ia all seriousness, and that every step had been taken to see that such occurrences did not take' place again. He wosld prefer not to go into the question of the exact distribution of blama between in dividuals tor toe aeaia oi tnese xourmen. no one was mere deeply sensible of their bass than those who might directly or indirectly have contributed to the catastrophe.

He could adduce a nnmber of reasons to show that although there might have been negligence, there had not been what he might eall culpable negligence of sneh a character as to justify tail Committee in Jtakinw action when action had already been taken. Although" it mirht not aniear so to civilians, he thonvbt mn soldier in the Committee would agree with trH that for the" in Chief to intervene ia a divisional csmTr.and and publicly to notify his regret that certain things had happened and to direct that: they should not occur again was a rebuke of a very practical and severe character. He might add that the directions sent to Aldershot had also been repeated in identical terms to all the other ecsnraands where there were numbers of troops ia camp. Ue could aet altogether ignore what took place outtdJe that House, aad be thought there had been regrettahU criticism on Ou part of people who, unlike the Service members of the Committee, were not competent to decide who was resnossibie aad who freuuemlw mA rA jka a really cruel injustice to deserving cmcers who were in no sisted that the committee should know who was reason 5 per tea less than the sible for what be did aet hesitate to eall the culpable aegli jzaom oa smiling am oJ sor as toaf; una wiuous proper bead covering, the thermometer standi) at SOdog. Was there no officer at Aldershot who bad tbe right to say that the day was unsuitable for a leaf march, aad that the men should stop at home 1 Mr.

WYNDHAM said that Lord Iasdowae bad come to the ccnclusioa that the plan of issuing old clothes to the MilitU had been pushed much too far and be had decided to remedy tho grievaac. (Hear, bear.) Before the end of the Seasioa he hoped to say what would be done. As to the casualties at Aidershot, be bad nothing mors to add. Certainly there was aa officer at Aldershot with power to say that the men "were not to be exercised and when the beat was felt the raea were ordered home." But then it too late. When be pat forward all the facts he was aceusod of ripr anting what had occurred as inevitable, lie did aot say that.

But such could only be avoided by eiperiooce and practice. With a amber of CLnsparstively new regiments aad new officers it was nspooaibU to expect that everythiag would go as well as when tbe sii virion had been commanded by tha same general for several years. It was not fair ia such circumstances to pick out far blame a single officer who had done his beat and to say that he alone was responsible. The War Office was certainly responsible for having followed tbe policy" of many years in not having a larger supply 'of behneat in store. Bat bo one without the eTrrrirrtea ef Bosdll Africa woold have questioned that policy.

The vote was then agreed to. was in no way to blame. The difficulty, was that tbsj war to bUxaa. He now eaao to tba Wawtiiit Csf law tlutlt On the vote of 8,000100 for warHka and other stores, SIR A. ACLAND HOOD caBed atteaOoa to tbe grievance felt by the raea in connexion with bairaek stoppegea.

He held his band a demand oa this account lor one penny whlen had been seat all toe way. to and he bad seen another demand for a halfpenny which bad also travelled the 13,000 miles involved the journey to and from Sooth Africa. It was comforting to knew that while so raaay millions wore being spent oa the war the authorities were takxag; sneh good care of the pence. Mr. F.

W. WILSON (Norfolk, Mid) ngrectad that awrittsnew should be gives to the forvaatian of rifle dabe by the supply of aaunmutioa en rears favourable terms. Mr. W. ALLAN (Gateshead) asked where the field guns were being purchased.

The boo. member asked whether tba were saada in this country, aad from w. oesagss were voey maoe. Mr. WYNDHAM, replying vartrst que ticas of boa.

members, said many articles would be returned after tbe war in a' much worn state, aad it was hoped to replace them by improvejuocts. A great part of our ambulance stores was seat to Sooth and it was found desirable for the. future to build lighter ambulance wagona for use cxt rough ground. With regard to the small claims, as soon aa tbe War OSea discovered the system they stopped it. Biflesand ammunition were supplied to rifle clubs at the eost of pro auction, and could not be supplied cheaper.

Tba War Office could not supply those dabs with rifles free when the wants of tbe Armv aad tba Volunteers had to bo attended to. Whh regard to field nae, be did aot think he ought to say where they were beiag purchased. The new guns which had been ordered eaubodied all tba Uteat improvements, soma ef which came from the typo of one manufacturer, say Yickars, aad others were evolved at Woolwich. This gen would fire eight rovsads per minute instead of five, aad they bad only ordered a sufficient aumbcr for six or seven batteries of borae artillery and 34 batteries of field artfllery This would afford an experiment on a largo scale, and if the gun turned out to be the best that rnaney eould bay, tba artillery would be armed with it, Mr. ALLAN again asked whether the guns were being made in this country, or pnrchaeer! from abroad.

Was the War Office still ia the arena of experiment with field guns for the Army Mr. WYNDHAM replied thai be eould aet go into details on the subject but tbe majority 'of the guns had been ordered from mafluacturere a this country and some from tbe arsenal at Woolwich. When the bon. member asked if the War Office was still ia the arena of experiment, his answer wag thai they al ways and always would be. Hear, bear," ana laugcier.j SIB i COLOMB Qjoai 1 i.

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